This study re-examines the greatly debated issue whether India’s untrenched economic inequalities across all the states have reduced from 2019 to 2024. The uneven growth causes and is also caused by the persistent inequalities in consumption growth distributions. Using reliable data from these two recent household surveys (Time Use Surveys/TUS), comparable in all respect of construction and methodologies, it is evident that per capita income has risen up in 2024. But, in the meanwhile, in half of total number of states (14) the enhanced growth is accompanied with creeping inequality. Next, these uneven patterns of economic inequalities, measured by famous Theil index, are broken down and analysed by Python-based approaches. The two components of between and within inequalities across the fourteen states help to conclude that there is ample income disparity in both components in the two years. The between states component has been proved to contribute 86% of the total change in inequality between the considered years. The within states component or intra state variation is more stringent and policy interventions should be launched to incline such growing intra-state disparities at local and state levels. The results are necessary and useful to policy makers, economists or economic analysts for promoting inclusive economic development and lowering inequality in India.
Dipendra Sinha (Sun,) studied this question.